Mary Hartel was enumerated on the 1885 Minnesota State Census with her parents in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota on 5 Jun 1885.

John Hartl, 40, male, white, born in Germany, parents of foreign birth.

Mary Hartl, 30, female, white, born in Pennsylvania.

Mary Hartl, 15, female, white, born in Pennsylvania, father of foreign birth.

Joseph Hartl, 12, male, white, born in Minnesota, father of foreign birth.

Annie Hartl, 11, female, white, born in Minnesota, father of foreign birth.

Emma Hartl, 4, female, white, born in Minnesota, father of foreign birth.

Clara Hartl, 2 female, white, born in Minnesota, father of foreign birth.

Things To Note:

John Hartl was 40 in 1885, making him born about 1845 in Germany.

Mary Hartl was 30 in 1885, making her born about 1855 in Pennsylvania.

Mary Hartl was 15 in 1885, making her born about 1870 in Pennsylvania.

Joseph Hartl was 12 in 1885, making him born about 1873 in Minnesota.

Annie Hartl was 11 in 1885, making her born about 1874 in Minnesota.

Emma Hartl was 4 in 1885, making her born about 1881 in Minnesota

Clara Hartl was 2 in 1885, making her born about 1883 in Minnesota.

Questions I have:

When did John Hartel immigrate and how?

With there being only 15 years difference between Mary the wife and Mary the daughter, is this really the correct mother?

Could there have been a first wife that was the mother of the first 3 children, then a second marriage to Mary Ann Kaufmann who had the last two children? Would also help explain the huge gap in children’s ages.